Instruction
Trying to clear your hips could be hurting your golf swing
As most golfers know, the downswing starts from the ground up. The proper kinematic sequence is as follows: the hips move left and open up to the target, followed by the torso, then the arms and finally the club. Slow-motion video and modern technology has shown us this.
Despite the knowledge of the proper kinematic sequence, however, players are better off practicing the start of their downswing a different way. They should strive to keep their hips closed (relative to the target), let their arms swing down and only then allow their hips to clear as the arms swing through.
“Why,” you’re probably asking?
In my experience, golfers who consciously try to get their hips open at impact by aggressively clearing them from the start can create timing issues… and the dreaded two-way miss. Yes, for maximum speed, golfers still need to hit shots using their hips, but they need to make sure they use them at the correct time.
When golfers stay more closed off with their hips and upper body in the start of the downswing, their lower body will bump left toward the target and their club shaft will shallow out as their arms transition down. This is a key move for delivering an inside, powerful path to the golf ball. Once in this closed position, you can then hit the ball with the right side of your body as hard as you want, producing maximum power and speed. This will also keep the clubhead square to the body through the shot as your right side rotates around your left side; a major key for consistency.
When we add speed to the swing, centrifugal force will take over if you allow it, and our hips and body will naturally clear as we swing our arms. The downswing does not need to be a consciously controlled movement, rather an instinctive move toward the target. The majority of amateurs are way too active with their bodies, especially their hips, and they don’t often realize it until they see it on film.
Amateurs often get in trouble when they try to re-create still images that were taken at full speed from tour players; for example, open hips at impact. This gives players and even instructors the idea that these images should be taught. When I walk up and down driving ranges, I constantly see players rehearsing their downswing trying to get their hips open as possible at impact or clearing them as fast as they can early in their swing. This is a false sense of power and is not necessary if our body angles and backswing sequence are correct.
Watch PGA Tour players’ rehearsals and practice swings before their shot. Notice the sequence: they swing their arms and hips, never aggressively trying to clear their hips early.
In the video below you’ll see practice swings of Henrik Stenson and Patrick Reed. Do you see them aggressively trying to clear their hips?
Clearing your hips early can cause several faults. Some players will come “over the top,” as clearing early can cause your upper body to open early, pushing your arms out from your body, producing an out-to-in swing path and the dreaded slice. Better players who clear early can still manage to stay closed off with their upper body and shallow out the shaft, but they then have to square the clubface with their hands and will become “handsy” at impact, or the club will get stuck behind them.
My favorite drill to combat clearing early and to get the proper feeling of how your hips and body move on the downswing.
- Take your normal stance when addressing the ball.
- Drop your right foot back behind your left (if you’re right-handed).
- Swing from this position.
This will give you the feeling of being closed off with your lower body. To golfers with over-active hips, this will feel like more of an arms swing, but they will still notice their hips have rotated.
Once you have the feeling of the correct downswing timing, you will instantly notice how much more effortless your swing feels. Better timing and fewer moving parts equals better ball striking and a swing that is much easier on your body.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Grant
Jun 15, 2019 at 11:05 pm
Awesome article! Why is it that with holding my right hip back like your saying is really tough with the driver and 3wood? With the longer clubs it’s more difficult. I don’t have issues with the 4 iron at all. I shoot in the 70s so idk. Snaphook toe shots.
stephenf
Nov 4, 2016 at 1:38 pm
People will probably argue with you (a lot of them will be 15-handicappers who know everything about theory), but what you’re saying is time-tested and correct.
What all these people so wrapped up in “rotation” don’t understand is that it will happen more or less naturally if your path and plane are decent. Throwing yourself into big efforts at rotation usually results in the rotation forces (mainly the torso and hips) shoving the club around and destroying the swing and its path.
It’s also true that a big rotational move early in the downswing forces you to hold _back_ through impact if you’re going to save the shot at all. Which is to say that if you really want your hips and shoulders to “clear,” don’t do it early. Once the path gets outside and steep at the outset of the downswing, it’s all rescue from that point on, and usually not a successful one. That’s the kind of swing where everything just stops moving through impact.
I used to get people to toss a ball a few feet and then try to throw it 30 yards and 70 yards. Unless you’re just totally nonathletic, you’ll step into the throw and rotate more aggressively as a response to what you’re trying to do with the swing of your arm and the snap of your hand, whether it involves more force or less force.
You’re probably aware of people like Seymour Dunn, and after them people like Toski et al., who have repeated one of the best lines I’ve ever heard. I used it often when I was playing competitively and teaching: “Never confuse something that happens with something you have to try to do.”
Kelvin Kelley
Nov 15, 2016 at 1:53 am
Stephen, thanks for the comment
Mark
Oct 30, 2016 at 8:09 am
I read this article and then watched some golf. I can definitely see this in their swings.
I’ve always had a problem with over active hips (and right leg) at the start of the downswing.
This move fixed that!
First round doing this at University Ridge with aerated greens, shot a 70!
Several thumbs up on this one!
Kelvin Kelley
Nov 15, 2016 at 1:52 am
Great to hear Mark!
Sometimes a Smizzle
Oct 22, 2016 at 9:15 pm
I heard over on youtube that if you have fast hips, you have to feel like you start your swing with your hands. It worked for me. I rotate crazy hard and hit it pretty far. But i always hit a snap hook because my hands couldnt catch up and i would twist the club while trying to get it caught up. Fix: start the swing with the hands. I had slow motion vid of the two different swings i would post if my phone hadn’t been wiped recently ????
Double Mocha Man
Oct 21, 2016 at 10:10 am
Ya gotta love golf advice. Two days ago we had the boys telling us to clear our hips. Today we have Mr. Kelley telling us not to clear our hips. Sheesh, I’ll just buy an Iron Byron and take that onto the course to stand in for my golf game. Can Iron Byron putt?
Geo
Oct 21, 2016 at 9:41 am
I do this drill and it feels good. I try it with my normal swing after and I clear the hips early and i feel all the problems. Hard to get the feel from the drill. Is there a better maybe transition drill that might help?
Kelvin Kelley
Oct 22, 2016 at 12:36 am
Feel your hips stay closed off when you swing your arms down, the way the drill forces you to feel
Pingback: Trying to clear your hips could be hurting your golf swing | Swing Update
john
Oct 20, 2016 at 8:18 pm
interesting article.
if you slide forward with the hips bringing that club way on the inside can mean the player has to ‘flick’ their wrists at the ball to be able to make effective contact and not end up with the massive downward AoA that Henrik Stenson has – which in itself creates far more inconsistency. Turning through it is the only way to be consistent, you just need to separate the hips and shoulders properly and that is the issue you’re talking about here – not the need to slide forward and throw the club way on the inside and way behind you.
TR1PTIK
Oct 20, 2016 at 7:02 pm
I’ve struggled to grasp this concept, but the more I watch tour players closely the more I realize the truth of this.
During one of the last lessons I had this past season, my instructor told me to “feel” like I was starting down with hands and arms first and to stay over the ball as if I were trying to hit a “smother hook” (his words). When I got it right I could tell a noticeable difference in how the swing felt. It was considerably more effortless and we saw club speed jump by almost 4mph simply because my sequence was better.
My biggest problem now is getting this motion ingrained and firm up my wrists a little at the top. I have a tendency to cock the wrists too much and then release early. I have a 105~ ss on average, but could only muster about 1.43 (at best) smash factor leading to significant loss in distance. GREAT ARTICLE!
Kelvin Kelley
Oct 22, 2016 at 12:37 am
Glad you enjoyed it!
Pickle
Oct 20, 2016 at 5:19 pm
Great advice. I wish I had it 5 years ago. I spent 3 years trying to rotate my hips open faster so I could hit it farther. Went from a +4 to a 1. Opening hips too early caused all kinds of swing plane issues – steep, a bit over the top, and army’s. I’m slowly getting my old swing back. But it’s taken a long time and I do the Drill you mention every range session.
Kelvin Kelley
Oct 22, 2016 at 12:39 am
Pickle, good to hear this drill helps you!
Joe Burnett
Oct 20, 2016 at 5:00 pm
This article is exactly right. Many amateur golfers hear “get your hips through,” but they actually may be getting them through way too early. You have to have your lower body and upper body coinciding with each other perfectly.
This is why it’s important to get lessons from a professional and not one of your buddies!
Kelvin Kelley
Oct 22, 2016 at 12:38 am
Joe,
Thanks for the advice.
Ramrod
Oct 25, 2016 at 7:53 pm
‘You have to have your lower body and upper body coinciding with each other perfectly’.
No you don’t. As somebody said above, you need the upper and lower body to work INDEPENDENTLY. If you spin your hips and shoulders at the same time you’re coming way over the top, out to in, and all manner of other bad things.
Richard Grime
Oct 20, 2016 at 4:05 pm
I’m not too sure about this. I hit too far from the inside. Too narrow and lose posture in the downswing, clearing hard left brings me down on a more outside path but still not too steep. If I overdo it then start left hip diagonally right first then clear left.
Gonzo
Oct 20, 2016 at 10:49 pm
You are overthinking your hips. You are probably losing posture because you are not maintaining the flex in your rear leg. It’s probably straightening at some point which for most people not name Rory or Brooks doesn’t work. Article is exactly right, you cannot actively think about turning or bumping your hips in a fraction of a second it takes to make your downswing.